CLTD (Certified in Logistics Transportation and Distribution)

A number of us as instructors have recently completed and passed our studies for the CLTD certification and I wanted to share my thoughts with you if you're considering signing up for classes to take the exams. As a person coming out of a traditional manufacturing and supply chain environment, it was startling to see how much more goes on in a supply chain that you and I need to be aware of, to lead in our organization, that I had no clue about. Some of them were International infrastructures, methods of entry, contracts, payments, commercial documents, Insurance, etc. As well, all the distribution and warehousing activities, that must go on. And they have to mesh as well as everything we know about and do today and manufacturing planning and control. Also startling was stepping back and realizing how the actual product cost is such a small part of the total cost logistically to get materials all the way in to the end and into the customers hands. There is so much more we are going to have to be responsible for, and knowledgeable about, if we are going to lead the Logistics elements of supply chain management. It really won't matter if you will do all this stuff or manage it via a 3PL. There is so much more we can now do to get the right product to the right customer, in the right quantity, in the right condition, at the right place, at the right time, and for the right cost. If you're looking for ways to save your company money, make money, or solve problems, you really have to give CLTD a serious look. Granted I love supply chain, but objectively, CLTD fills a hole in all of our professional education that we have to have if we are going to continue to be of value to our organizations AND ourselves